GRSP Annual General Meetings

The GRSP held its annual general meetings this week in Paris, hosted by our member TOTAL. The meetings comprise our constitutional Steering Committee meeting for members, followed by our open and informal Information and Sharing Day.

Very close to the entire GRSP membership attended our Steering Committee (SC) meeting this year, including IFRC`s newly appointed Under Secretary General for the Programmes and Operations Division, Jagan Chapagain. The SC meeting reviewed the progress of GRSP, looked at the recent growth including welcoming new members (Save the Children and eDriving) and the launch of the GRSP-managed Botnar Child Road Safety Challenge, and the committee approved the vision and direction of new CEO Dave Cliff. It was also an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences within a group of leading road safety actors from civil society and the private sector.

Our Information & Sharing Day this year focussed on the theme of Technology and Innovation. This provided a unique opportunity for GRSP members, GRSP staff and other invited guests to come together to discuss their achievements, challenges and opportunities around this topical theme.

Following opening addresses from Total and GRSP CEO Dave Cliff, the participants split into 4 groups, each with a GRSP Guide, who rotated the groups so that they had a chance to visit all four thematic tables, facilitated by the Table Host. The groups then deep-dived into the following themes:

• Table 1 – Technology and Innovation Today
• Table 2 – Technology and Innovation Tomorrow
• Table 3 – Technology, Innovation and the Divide
• Table 4 – Technology and Innovation – You and GRSP

The interactive and engaging structure of the meeting resulted in complex discussions and exchanges of ideas which will serve to deepen the engagement both between GRSP and our members, and amongst our network of members directly. It also gave external invited guests an insight into the work of GRSP and its members, and the benefits of membership.

One of many highlights, but one definitely worth mentioning, was the Wrap Up session. Following the group discussion and closing remarks by Dave Cliff, the participants enjoyed a special address from the TOTAL Chairman of the Board and CEO, Mr. Patrick Pouyanné. His speech gave an insight into road safety as a core value within Total, it recognized the important contribution being made by GRSP and its members, and it was a reminder of the challenges that remain.